Adrien Brody's Volkswagen Phaeton: For Sale on AutoTrader

Brody bought this Phaeton new in 2005

Luxurious full-size sedan was a stretch for VW

It's available for $29,950 in Los Angeles

Buyers interested in the high-end Volkswagen Phaeton are likely swayed by the car's subtle styling, upscale appointments and inconspicuous luxury. But this 2005 Phaeton currently listed on AutoTrader.com for $29,950 adds a little excitement to an otherwise understated package thanks to its high-profile first owner: Academy Award-winning actor Adrien Brody.

The Phaeton's current owner, John, says he bought the luxury sedan from a Southern California dealer where Brody traded it in just two years after taking delivery in 2005. When John bought the car, the dealer included the original bill of sale with Brody's signature -- a document John plans on passing along to the Phaeton's next owner. The next owner will also get a rarely driven, low-mileage car -- though with no thanks to Brody.

"Adrien Brody put on most of the miles," said John, who bought the car in 2007 with around 20,000 miles on the odometer. "I barely drove it since I bought it, but I've kept all the services up to date. It looks like a new car."

Indeed, photos in the listing show the Phaeton in good condition with no visible scratches, damage or modifications -- aside from a new set of alloy wheels taken from a later Phaeton. According to John, he added those because he likes the look, though he still retains the original alloys that were on the vehicle when Brody drove it off the showroom floor more than seven years ago.

That was a good time for the actor, then 32, who became the youngest person ever to win an Academy Award for Best Actor just three years earlier. Brody also acted in several other hit movies around the time of his Phaeton purchase, including M. Night Shyamalan's 2004 drama The Village, a 2005 remake of King Kong and Wes Anderson's 2007 comedy-drama The Darjeeling Limited.

For Brody fans, it will come as no surprise that the actor chose to drive a unique Phaeton instead of a more traditional luxury sedan from BMW, Lexus or Mercedes. That's because Brody has admitted his love of cars in several interviews and attended the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in the past. He's also been spotted driving exotic cars, including a Ferrari California and high-performance Chevrolet Corvette Z06 around Los Angeles and New York. And while this Phaeton is not exotic, it still offers drivers the excitement of a rare model, V8 power and an Academy Award-winning first owner.

What it means to you: This example of Volkswagen's unusual Phaeton is even more interesting thanks to its celebrity ownership history.

Interested in Adrien Brody's VW Phateon? Share your thought below.

Jeffrey Archer
is fortunate to have turned a passion for cars into a career. His wide-ranging automotive experience includes work for automakers and dealers in addition to covering the news. When not writing, he spends his time searching for unique cars on AutoTrader.com.